“For heroes do not make history—that is the historians’ job—but, passive, let themselves be borne along, swept up to the crest of the tide of change, of chance, of war.”

—  Ursula K. Le Guin

The Lady of Moge (p. 183)
Short fiction, Orsinian Tales (1976)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "For heroes do not make history—that is the historians’ job—but, passive, let themselves be borne along, swept up to the…" by Ursula K. Le Guin?
Ursula K. Le Guin photo
Ursula K. Le Guin 292
American writer 1929–2018

Related quotes

Ben Emmerson photo

“The House of Saud knows full well that it cannot survive the forces of change, that it cannot withstand the inevitable tide of history and that it will in due course be swept away as the clamour for governmental transparency and social justice grows.”

Ben Emmerson (1963) British Queen's Counsel

As quoted in Saudi Arabia using anti-terror laws to detain and torture political dissidents, UN says https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-torture-political-dissidents-anti-terror-laws-un-mohammad-bin-salman-a8388226.html (8 June 2018), The Independent.

Joseph Stalin photo

“It is not heroes that make history, but history that makes heroes.”

Joseph Stalin (1879–1953) General secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Jane Yolen photo

“Wars do not make heroes of everyone.”

Jane Yolen book Briar Rose

Source: Briar Rose (1992), Chapter 25 (p. 146)

Leonid Brezhnev photo

“The rout of fascism, in which the Soviet Union played the decisive role, generated a mighty tide of socio-political changes which swept across the globe.”

Leonid Brezhnev (1906–1982) General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union

As quoted in Selected Speeches and Writings (1980) edited by Mikhail Andreevich Suslov

P.G. Wodehouse photo

“Whenever there is a job to be taken on of a kind calculated to make Humanity shudder, the cry goes up, ‘Let Wooster do it.”

P.G. Wodehouse book Jeeves in the Offing

Jeeves in the Offing (1960)

“If there is no more market for ancient Greek, there should be no more ancient Greek. If there are no jobs for historians, there should be no history. If there is no money in brains, there should be no brains - except for the brains that make money.”

Laura Penny (1975) Canadian journalist

Source: More Money than Brains (2010), Chapter Four, Screw U or Hate My Professors, p. 131

Newton Lee photo

“Given the chance to let machines do the job, Google cofounder Larry Page estimated that nine out of 10 people “wouldn’t want to be doing what they’re doing today.” The remaining 10 % really love their jobs and make no distinction between working and playing.”

Newton Lee American computer scientist

Google It: Total Information Awareness, 2016

Jerry Seinfeld photo

“Let's face it: a date is a job-interview, that lasts all night. The only difference between a date and a job interview is: not many job-interviews is there a chance you'll end up naked at the end of it.”

Jerry Seinfeld (1954) American comedian and actor

I'm Telling You for the Last Time (1998)
Context: What is a date, really, but a job interview that lasts all night? The only difference is there aren't many job interviews where there's a chance you'll end up naked at the end of it. "Well, Bill, the boss thinks you're the right man for the job; why don't you strip down and meet some of the people you'll be working with?"

Mahatma Gandhi photo

“Truth alone will endure, all the rest will be swept away before the tide of time.”

Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948) pre-eminent leader of Indian nationalism during British-ruled India

Basic Education (1951) p. 89
Posthumous publications (1950s and later)
Context: Truth alone will endure, all the rest will be swept away before the tide of time. I must continue to bear testimony to truth even if I am forsaken by all. Mine may today be a voice in the wilderness, but it will be heard when all other voices are silenced, if it is the voice of Truth.

Related topics